Clumps of poop

[Little Ones]

Just noticed this along with four other poo-clump-things in the cage.

I’d currently been treating one Guinea pig with Ranitidine Solution and Loxicom because he’s been struggling with his poos and the vet thought it was due to the cold weather and his bowels slowing down. However, this came from the other guinea pig - I feel daft because I hadn’t even thought to be checking him. Should I be really worried? Should I even give him the same medication as the other since his bowels may be doing the exact same thing as the other ones?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Little Ones]

I should also add that he’s eating fine as far as I can tell!

 

[Betsy]

My 5 piggies are outside and the cold weather has never slowed their bowels done. Poop production is the same all year round! I would try to find another vet.

 

[Little Ones]

My 5 piggies are outside and the cold weather has never slowed their bowels done. Poop production is the same all year round! I would try to find another vet.

It’s an exotic vet I go to, it’s the only one near me and I still have to travel an hour to get there so I don’t think that’s an option unfortunately. Is it really not a thing, for their bowels to slow down in the cold? I’d never heard of it before until she said it and it hasn’t really been that cold indoors but I just took her word for it

 

[Betsy]

Well it's not something I've ever experienced with my 5 piggies before and I've had them outside for 3 years now. I never experienced it with my 2 Rainbow piggies either and they lived outside for over 5 years. Maybe one of the Health Experts will be able to shed some more light in this subject. @Freela @Jaycey @helen105281

 

[Wiebke]

Just noticed this along with four other poo-clump-things in the cage.
View attachment 103854
I’d currently been treating one Guinea pig with Ranitidine Solution and Loxicom because he’s been struggling with his poos and the vet thought it was due to the cold weather and his bowels slowing down. However, this came from the other guinea pig - I feel daft because I hadn’t even thought to be checking him. Should I be really worried? Should I even give him the same medication as the other since his bowels may be doing the exact same thing as the other ones?
Thanks in advance!

Hi!

Please take any piggies with mushy poos off any fresh food for at least 24-48 hours after the poos have normalised. If the poos are not showing clear signs of improvement within 24 hours, your piggy needs to see a vet. Keep in mind that the output is always lagging a day or two behind the input. Be aware that over 80% of the daily food intake should be hay hay hay and that you cannot control that by eye. A piggy can lose a lot of weight without you noticing in a very short time if you just look at their veg.

Switch from the usual once weekly weigh-in and health check to weighing any guinea pig you have concerns about daily at the same time in the feeding cycle. Because your piggies need to eat mainly hay and veg should only make 10% of the daily food intake, they are not losing out. Overfeeding on fresh food can lead to fermentation in the intestines and to poo problems. I would also recommend to mush up some of their pellets twice daily and to serve them lukewarm with a couple of pinches of probiotics mixed in to help the gut to normalise on top of the gut stimulants your vet has prescribed.
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Please bring your guinea pigs indoors/under cover into a stable environment out of the cold, and especially out of the impending cold snap! Guinea pigs are not hardy and require the same temperature range we humans are comfortable in; they do not deal well . If you need a coat, a piggy is freezing; if you feel hot, your piggies are already overheating and in danger of dying from a heat stroke.
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
Hot weather management and heat strokes

See your vet if the poo problems continue/don't stabilise as they could have picked up something else.

 

[Little Ones]

Hi!

Please take any piggies with mushy poos off any fresh food for at least 24-48 hours after the poos have normalised. If the poos are not showing clear signs of improvement within 24 hours, your piggy needs to see a vet. Keep in mind that the output is always lagging a day or two behind the input. Be aware that over 80% of the daily food intake should be hay hay hay and that you cannot control that by eye. A piggy can lose a lot of weight without you noticing in a very short time if you just look at their veg.

Switch from the usual once weekly weigh-in and health check to weighing any guinea pig you have concerns about daily at the same time in the feeding cycle. Because your piggies need to eat mainly hay and veg should only make 10% of the daily food intake, they are not losing out. Overfeeding on fresh food can lead to fermentation in the intestines and to poo problems. I would also recommend to mush up some of their pellets twice daily and to serve them lukewarm with a couple of pinches of probiotics mixed in to help the gut to normalise on top of the gut stimulants your vet has prescribed.
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Please bring your guinea pigs indoors/under cover into a stable environment out of the cold, and especially out of the impending cold snap! Guinea pigs are not hardy and require the same temperature range we humans are comfortable in; they do not deal well . If you need a coat, a piggy is freezing; if you feel hot, your piggies are already overheating and in danger of dying from a heat stroke.
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
Hot weather management and heat strokes

See your vet if the poo problems continue/don't stabilise as they could have picked up something else.

They’ve had some veggies today but I’ve just taken out what’s left. They have a constant supply of hay in bags that I replenish daily, so diet isn’t a problem where that’s concerned. I give them carrots, broccoli and cucumber every 2 days - perhaps that’s too much? The piggies are always inside too, so they shouldn’t be getting too cold.
Would you recommend me giving the gut stimulants to the pig with clumpy poos if it’s prescribed to the other? Or even just the pain relief? Or is it better to just leave him so I can properly monitor him and take him to the vets if need be?
Thanks for all your advice!

 

[Wiebke]

They’ve had some veggies today but I’ve just taken out what’s left. They have a constant supply of hay in bags that I replenish daily, so diet isn’t a problem where that’s concerned. I give them carrots, broccoli and cucumber every 2 days - perhaps that’s too much? The piggies are always inside too, so they shouldn’t be getting too cold.
Would you recommend me giving the gut stimulants to the pig with clumpy poos if it’s prescribed to the other? Or even just the pain relief? Or is it better to just leave him so I can properly monitor him and take him to the vets if need be?
Thanks for all your advice!

Hi! Carrots are the equivalent of a fatty burger for rodents and broccoli is too high in calcium to feed on a daily/near daily basis (in case you have piggies with a disposition for bladder stones) and there is not enough vitamin C in your diet. Please have a look at the diet thread I have linked to in my last post. It has a picture of a balanced sample diet which you can adapt your own from.

 

[Little Ones]

Hi! Carrots are the equivalent of a fatty burger for rodents and broccoli is too high in calcium to feed on a daily/near daily basis (in case you have piggies with a disposition for bladder stones) and there is not enough vitamin C in your diet. Please have a look at the diet thread I have linked to in my last post. It has a picture of a balanced sample diet which you can adapt your own from.

I’ve switched the diet around according to the link you provided (thank you so much). He’s been eating everything okay but today he’s just starting with the clumped poops again? Honestly not sure why or what to do. The other pig wants nothing to do with the new veg either, he was fine for a few days but he just won’t touch the green beans, celery or peppers. Any advice would be awesome, thanks in advance

 

[Wiebke]

I’ve switched the diet around according to the link you provided (thank you so much). He’s been eating everything okay but today he’s just starting with the clumped poops again? Honestly not sure why or what to do. The other pig wants nothing to do with the new veg either, he was fine for a few days but he just won’t touch the green beans, celery or peppers. Any advice would be awesome, thanks in advance

Just persevere. Piggies are like children; they learn from their elders what is safe to eat and what not. Introducing new veg can be difficult.

However, take them off fresh veg first and see your vet as this is now a repeat.

All the best!

 

[alpacasqueak]

My piggies both hate green beans! My Jess acts like it's poison and reverses away with a funny/terrified look on her face!

It definitely worth trying lots of new things, my Rupert was really touchy with veg the first year I had him, was stuck in his ways, suddenly decided he loved everything after that, apart from green beans, parsnips and sprouts! They've definitely got their individual tastes!
Hope you can get them loving lots of greenery soon